Holdover tank for air conditioners



F. M. YOUNG,

HOLD-OVER`TANK- FOR AAIB GONDITIONERS Filed April 8', 1935 Y Patentedoct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES HOLDOVER TANK FOR 4AIR CONDITIONERS Fred M. Young, Racine, Wis., assgnor to Young Radiator Company, Racine, Wis.

Applieafion April s, 1935, serial N0. 15,239

s Claims. (01.25'1-240)` This invention relates to improvements in devices commonly used on railway coaches vwherein4 over tank is circulated whenthe refrigerator system is not in operation, the pre-cooled solution in the holdover tank then being circulated through a special.. air cooling coil which is positioned adjacent the aircooling evaporator,`where zo by the circulated air may be cooled continuously. The pre-cooled solution will be re-cooled by the natural accumulation of ice on the tank coils, this ice having accumulated during the time the compressor was in operation.

y as The object of this invention is `to provide a simple, strong, eicient and durable holdover tank unit having preferably two separate cores and a tank header bound together into a single unit whereby this unit may be easily placed in position a0 in the tank and the entire assembly substantially held together.

I accomplish these objects by providing side bars which interconnect the removable header and the tube plates and further by forming the enclosing tank in two horizontal trough shaped members each having preferably narrowinturned edges which are welded together to thereby form a shell with inwardly extending longitudinal ribs, thus providing supporting means .for the interconnecting bars on the core unit, whereby the core assembly may be inserted into thev tank and Withdrawn drawer like.

A further object of this invention is to provideY means whereby the liquid level in the tank may be conveniently-observed. Obviously applicants' device may be designed to make useof other types of cores than are shown, some of which may be adapted for either heating or cooling purposes.

It will be understood that in the form shown of the invention, the coils are used as evaporatorsy which are operated simultaneously with the a-ir cooling evaporator coils but preferably under separate manual control.

To these and other useful ends this invention 65 consists in matter hereinafter set forth and claimed and'shown in the accompanying drawinginwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the core unit, showing the tank in section on line I-I of Figure 3, a portion of two tubes being removed to 5 disclose the spray. tube.

Figure 2 is a front sectional elevation of the unit shown in Figure 1, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear sectional elevation of the 10 unit taken on line 3-3 of Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the complete device. 4

Figure 5 is an enlarged front v4view of the glass window showing a fraction of the rear head of 15 thetank. f

Figure 6 is a ltransverse section of the glass window showing a fractionof the rear head oi theA tank taken on linel `6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the core header 20 30, taken on line 'I-1 of Figure 2.

Thus I have. shown the preferred form of my invention, wherein reference character A is used to designate the upper coreand B the lower core in their entirety. Reference "numeral I0. desig- 25 nates the upper half of the tank and numeral I I, designates the lower half of the tank less the end members. The tank members are formed from separate plates and are each provided with inwardly projecting flanges I2 and I3 respectivea0 ly. After these ahalves are formed in the shape clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, they are preferably arc welded together as at I4. The rear end of the thus formed shell preferably embraces the head I6, as clearly shown in Figure 1, and to 35 which it is preferably arc welded as at I'I. This head I6, is suppliedwith a suitably positioned glass window comprising a ring i8 which is preferably arc welded to the head as at I9. Ring I8 yis provided with a iiange seat 20. A glass disk 40 2|, having a gasket 22 on each side thereof, fits loosely in the recess over flange 20 and a ring 2l is formed to register with the ring I8 and the outside gasket 22 and is adapted to seal the assembly by means of cap screws 24. and condition of the liquid coolant in the tank may be notedy through the glass 2| from time to time. The front end of the tank is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 25 to which the front head is attached as -wil'l hereinafter o appear. Thus I have shown my preferred form of tank and observation window.

I shall now describe the preferred form of my improved core assembly. Coils A and B, it will be noted, are each formed into two series multi- The level 5 2 ple paths forv the passage of the refrigerant. For example, coils A are provided with an inlet header 30 and an outlet header 3| (seeFigure 2). The 1 refrigerant enters'through pipe 29 and will pass through the coils as illustrated by arrows, back vand forth sinuously until the header 3| is reached from whence the refrigerant or gas may return to the compressor through pipe outlet 32.

Refrigerant will also pass into coil B by means ',of inlet pipe'33 and header 35 and pass through the two tube series as indicated by arrows, passing out at header 36 through outlet pipe 31. Obviously these two multiple circuits may be supplied individually direct from the condenser or elsewhere, the preferred plan being to supply regulating valves on inlet pipes 29 and 33 having suitable connections to the condenser, thus providing manual controlling means.

, It will be noted by scrutinizing Figures v2 and 3, that the tank is well filled with tubes Jwhich are staggered -vertically or in direction of tank liquid flow, except that a space 40 is provided 1 shown). This pump is adapted to force the liq- 35' 'uid from the tank through a supplemental cooling coil (notshown) and back into the tank through the orifices in pipe 4|. 1 1

1 I shall now describe my improved meansr for making a single unit' of the tubes, tube plates and tank head and the manner of supporting them in the tank. 'I'he ends of the tubes are expanded as at 30 and loops 6| are adapted to connectl certaintube ends as illustrated and for the purpose already outlined. Two tube plates' 62-62 are provided having openings through which the expanded ends extend and are bonded thereto. I

In order to increase the efficiency ofthe de-v vice, I supply closely spaced flns 63, having flanged openings through which the tubes extend in the usual manner. 1 1

The tube plates are preferably cut away mid- 1.

way their sides asat 84. These cut away 'portions are adapted to receive angle bars --85 as indicated. Each plate is welded to the bars at their contact points and the spaces 6I are of a proper width to provide free room for the tank ribs I2 and I3. 'Ihe front end of 11the angle bars 65 project slightly past the return bends 6| ,and these ends are suitably welded or attached to the tank head ,asvat 61. Means may also be provided for furthensecuring the tube plates on their upper` and'lower sides to the head 66, thus to more-rmly bind the head to the cores and make astrong'unitary assembly. It will also be noted that pipe 4| extends through openings in the headand the tube. plates. This pipe is seal welded t'o the head 36, and may also be welded to the tube plates thus to., further strengthen the assembly. The inlet and outlet pipes to the coil headers are also welded to the tank head 66. .1

Ihus it will be seen that bars 65 are positioned thereby to support the Ncore unit in a central position inthe tank and hold thehead 33 so gas proof.

it registers with the tank ilange 25. I provide bolts 10 whereby when a suitable gasket is positioned on the tank flange, these bolts may be drawn up tight and thetank made liquid-or Clearly the core unit may be easily moved iny and out of the tank, drawer like. Thus the as sembly will be suitable for rough handling and will be protected against the possibilityofthe core working loose and being damaged. l0

Clearly applicant's principal object is to pr0.=

.vide a novel tank-and novel means for closing the open end of the tank and toprovide a core\ assembly preferably attached to the removable tank head, whereby the core is adequately supl5 ported and the head and core together may be removed and replaced drawer like. Obviously k the edges of dne trough only may be turned inwardly. It will .also be understood that for some uses the core need not be attached to the head 20 Jand that the pipes may be extended through the permanent tank head. q In devices of theA class it is customary to prf;- vide a bundle of tubes in the tank in which a portion or all of the refrigerant may be expand- 25' 1 ed, the tankbeing well-filled with a liquid consisting of-,preferably a mixture of water and prestone. Thus the solution is freeze proof against normal exterior weather temperatures.

However the action ofthe refrigerant in the tubes 30v will nrst chill the solution in the tank and 'then ice will form on the outside walls of the tubes. When the refrigerator plant has been stopped, as at railway stations, thus discontinuing the flow of refrigerant to lthe tankand the evapo- 35 rator'coils used for cooling the air, the solution in the tank may ythen be circulated through a supplemental cooling coil through which the circulated air passes after leaving the evaporator coil which is now inactive. tion will pass through the tank and the auxll- 1 iary air cooling coil and cool the passing air as long as the ice on the coils and the reduced temperature of ythe solution answers the purpose,

the tank and coils therein being of a capacity 45V.

to properly cool the air for normal stopovers. When the compressor is again started, enough refrigerant may be caused to pass through the tank cores to again prepare for another stopover.

I provide an air vent for the tank, comprising a chamber, or dome 'H and a 100D pipe '12.v Pipe 12 being connected to the top of the dome. Small openings are provided in the tank which register with the dome and in order t0 Supply means 63 for draining back liquid that may ,'pass into the dome, I provide a tube 13. This drain tube preferably extends to a pointwhere itvwill lbe below the liquid leveL@ 'I'hus any accumulaf tion of liquid may return to the tank undisturbed yt0.

and dry air pass into or from the tank.

Having thus shown and described my invention, I- claim: v 1

l. A device of the class described. comprising-a tank made from `two longitudinal halves having 66 adjacent edges turned inwardly andbeingsuitably joined togetherv forming a shell, a head for one end of said. shell, the other end having an outwardly extending flange, a head for said other .end which registers with said ange means for 70 removably binding and sealing said head to said flange, a bundle of tubes fitting loosely in nsaid f ,tank and having spaced apart tube plates through which the4 tubes r11' said bundle extend, means attached to opposite sides cf said tube plates and Y6 'I'hus the tank solu- 40 to said last mentioned head whereby said means will rest on said inwardly turned edges to thereby position and support said head and tube bundle.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a tank made from two longitudinal halves having adjacent edges turned inwardly and being suitably joined together forming a shell, va head for one end of said shell, the other end having l0 an outwardly extending flange, a head for said other end' which registers with said ange means for removably binding and sealing said head to said iiange, a bundle of tubes tting loosely in said tank and having spaced apart tube plates through which the tubes of said bundle extend,

means attached to opposite sides ofl said tube '.,plates and to said last mentioned head whereby said means will rest on said, inwardly turned edges to thereby position and support said head and tube bundle. an inlet pipe extending over said tubes having a number of spaced apart out- Y lets and extending through said lastnamed head, an outlet connection in' theibottom of'said tank, 'inlet and outlet connections from said tubes extending through said last named head.

end of said shell, the other end having an out turned flange, a head for said other end which registers with said ange, means for removably binding andsealing said head to said iiange, instrumentalities rigidly attached t said last named head having members adapted to register with said inwardly turned iiange to thereby position and support said last named head and instrumentalities and whereby said instrumentalities and last named ihead may be removed and rem placed drawer like.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a tank made `from two longitudinal troughs, one

of said troughs having its edges turned inwardly and being joined to the edges of the other trough forming a shell, a head for one end of said shell, the other end having an out turned ange, a head for said other end, means for removably binding and sealing said last named headv to said flange, instrumentalities rigidly attached to said last named head having members adapted to register with said inwardly turned edges to thereby position and support said head and instrumentalities and whereby said instrumentalities and head may be removedv and replaced drawer like. f)

5. A device of the class described, comprising a tank made from two longitudinal troughs having adjacent edgesturned inwardly andbeing joined together forming a shell, a head for one end of said shell, the other end having an outwardly extending iange, a head for said other end which registers vwith said ilange, means for removably binding and sealing said head to said angeinstrumentalitie's rigidly attached to said last mentioned head having members adapted to register with said inwardly turned edges to thereby position and support said instrumentalities and whereby said instrumentalities and head may be removed and replaced drawer like, a window in said first mentioned head and means to removably bind and seal said window thereto.

6. A device ot the class described, comprising a tank made from two longitudinal troughs having adjacent edges turned inwardly and joined together to form a shell, a head for one end of said shell, the other end having an outwardly extending ilange, a head for lsaid other end, means to Lremovably bind and seal said head to said ilange, instrumentalities attached to said last named head and supported on said inwardly turned flanges whereby -said instrumentalities and head may be removed and replaced drawer like.

FRED M. YOUNG. 

